The people of Oke-Ode Community in Ifelodun Local Government area have commended the Kwara State Governor, Mallam AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq for upgrading the Elesa of Oke-Ode Land, HRH Oba Mufutau Ibrahim Akanbi Adebayo, Ilufemiloye I, to the First Class traditional ruler status.
The National President of the Oke-Ode Community Development Association (OCDA), Alhaji AbdulGaniyu Ajala-Bello, gave the commendation shortly after the presentation of the certificate of upgrading to the royal father on Tuesday (6th October, 2026).
In a statement made available to newsmen by the National Public Relations Officer of the Community Association, Chief Ganiyu Kunle Akogun, the Community said the upgrading, coming less than a year after the appointment of the Elesa, shows the Governor as a man of his words, having made a firm promise to that effect in October last year during his condolence visit to the town over the bandits attack of September 28, 2025.
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The Elesa with the Kwara State Deputy Governor, Elder Kayide Alabi shortly after the presentation of the letter of upgrading
he Governor had pledged on that occasion that once the then chieftaincy dispute in the town was settled and a new king appointed, he would upgrade the Elesa stool.
The Community leader expressed gratitude to the Governor for this promise kept and pledged the continuous support of the people of Oke-Ode Land for the Governor.
While wishing Governor AbdulRazaq a successful completion of his tenure and Allah’s assistance for him in his senatorial ambition in 2027, Alhaji Ajala-Bello urged the Sardauna of Ilorin Emirate to return the College of Nursing, Oke-Ode to its Oke-Ode permanent site, noting that the condition that warranted its temporary relocation to Ilorin last year has since normalised, as peace and adequate security have since returned to the community.
The Community leader also appealed to the Governor to look into the need for adequate staffing of the Oke-Ode Specialist Hospital, which has remained grossly understaffed for sometime now.
Alhaji Ajala-Bello also thanked the state Deputy Governor, Elder Kayode Alabi, the Commissioner for Local Government and Chieftaincy Affairs, Alhaji Abdullahi Abubakar Bata, and the Chairman of Ifelodun Local Government Council, Mallam AbdulRasheed Femi Yusuf, for their respective roles in ensuring the elevation of the Elesa to the First Class status.
